Woke up this morning with a very sweet Mother's Day card from Maiya, and a lovely gift of a slimy green diaper! Welcome to parenthood!
It's been a great few days. We are in Ho Chi Minh City, but have to head back to Vung Tau for the day tomorrow for the Giving and Receiving Ceremony (the legal adoption ceremony). We will take the hydrofoil there, so it should only take about an hour and a half each way. We haven't been able to get out and explore Vietnam at all, so hopefully in the next few days we'll at least be able to get out and see more of Ho Chi Minh.
It's hard to believe we've only had Maiya for just over 3 days/4 nights now. She has been amazing considering all the changes. She's still very happy, although we've had to take her to the international pediatrician for a very unpleasant visit (the doctor was fantastic though) on Friday, and back again Saturday for a check up. She's doing much better but we still have some skin issues to sort out. Despite all that, she's full of smiles all the time!
It is amazing the changes we've seen in her since taking her out of the orphanage. Yesterday was a big day as she started actually reaching out for & engaging with her toys for the first time. Until then she would simply look at them and smile but not reach out. This morning she rolled over from her back to her tummy by herself and is becoming more and more mobile. We're now working on sitting up - she still does a face-plant if you don't hold her, but I think she'll be able to do it before we leave Vietnam. She is eating better, and although she doesn't like it, is generally getting the antibiotics & Benadryl in that we have to give her.
Her body is beginning to relax as well. Her hands have been tight fists and she tended to hold her body very tensely. Now, although she has a super strength grip, is beginning to keep her hands more open and is kicking and moving her arms more too.
She loves her bath time and is starting to understand cause and effect with the splashing! She also loves being carried face-out in the Baby Bjorn carrier - she smiles at everyone & just takes in all the sights.
Eye contact, which is an important sign in the bonding process, has been amazing. She doesn't immediately look when you call her name, but when playing, drinking her bottle or just watching you walk around the room, she has been very engaged. I think she's beginning to recognize us and it helps that we are the only 2 people who hold her, so she's really beginning to see that we're here for keeps.
Maiya is a lot like Brett - easily distracted by lights and moving things, sleeps with her mouth open and her eyes half closed, burps, is stinky sometimes, and laughs a lot! Several people have commented on how her eyes resemble mine when she has them wide open - likely just because they're big and brown!
Anyway, thanks to everyone for reading the blog, sending us emails keeping us updated on life back home & sending us good thoughts & encouragement. We love hearing from you!
I'll try to post after the G & R (Giving & Receiving Ceremony) tomorrow.
Janice
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